BurmaNet News December 21, 1997

------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: December 21, 1997
Issue #896
Noted in Passing:
Why can't we say that our men are being arrested and sentenced without defence?'
- U Tin Oo, NLD CEC Member
(see REUTERS: BURMA OPPOSTITION SAID "SCOLDED")
HEADLINES:
==========
REUTERS: BURMA ANNOUNCES CABINET RESHUFFLES
REUTERS: BURMA OPPOSTITION SAID "SCOLDED"
SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET No.A.0253(I)
NCGUB STATEMENT: TIME FOR THE GENERALS TO BE SERIOUS
FTUB: STATEMENT ON THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S
NCGUB: STATEMENT ON 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDATION
DVB: NLD MP FROM MYANAUNG JAILED FOR 15 YEARS
REUTERS: EUROPEAN UNION MIGHT SEEK WTO PANEL
BKK POST: BURMA TAKES ITS PLACE AT BIST-EC TABLE
NATION: CHOPPERS GROUNDED BY SANCTIONS
BORDER REPORT: CONSUMER GOOD PRICES IN KAREN STATE
DOW JONES: TEXT OF U.S.DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE REPORT
THE TELEGRAPH: MIZORAM FOR WITHDRAWAL OF ASSAM
BRIEF REPORTS: DECEMBER 10-19, 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
REUTERS: BURMA ANNOUNCES CABINET RESHUFFLES
December 20, 1997
RANGOON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Burma's new military government on Saturday
announced a surprise cabinet reshuffle which changed several key financial
portfolios.
State-run television said late on Saturday the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) -- formed last month in a sudden government change which
abolished the former ruling military body -- had shuffled eight ministers and
added a new figure to the cabinet.
A proclamation issued by SPDC Secretary One Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt
moved Brigadier General David Abel from Minister for National Planning and
Economic Development to Minister in the Office of the Chairman of the SPDC.
Soe Tha, previously Minister for Telecommunications, Posts and Telegraphs,
replaced Abel as the minister in charge of foreign investment.
Brigadier General Win Tin moved from the finance portfolio to replace Soe Tha.
Khin Maung Tha will become the new Minister for Finance and Revenue and he
will be replaced as Minister of Energy by a new addition to the cabinet --
Brigadier General Lun Thi.
Than Aung replaces Pan Aung as education minister while Aung San, previously
Minister for Culture, replaces Than Aung as Minister for Cooperatives. The new
Minister of Culture will be Win Sein, who is replaced by Pan Aung as Minister
for Rail Transport.
All the shuffled ministers were members of the former cabinet which was
dissolved last month when the SPDC replaced and abolished the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC).
The top four leaders of the SLORC remained at the head of the new ruling body,
the SPDC.
The SLORC had ruled the country since it seized power in 1988 after crushing
pro-democracy uprisings.
This is the third major change in the government over the past month. In
addition to the change of name, the government also abolished the advisory
group that had been created during the November government change.
The group was made up of 14 people, most of whom were former SLORC ministers.
Local analysts said the latest changes came as a surprise and were probably an
attempt to better allocate the more important portfolios.
******************************************
REUTERS: BURMA OPPOSITION SAID "SCOLDED" IN
GOVERNMENT MEETING
December 19, 1997
RANGOON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A senior Burmese opposition member said
on Friday the opposition was ``scolded'' at Thursday's meeting with the
ruling military government.
Tin Oo, vice-chairman of Aung San Suu Kyi's main opposition National League
for Democracy (NLD), told Reuters the meeting on Thursday between several
members of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and NLD
executive council members was meant to warn the NLD not to disrupt the
peace of the nation.
``I consider it merely a scolding,'' Tin Oo said. ``They accused us of
disrupting peace by issuing announcements -- but why can't we say that our men
are being arrested and sentenced without defence?''
The NLD is led by pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
Last week, the SPDC said it had sentenced seven NLD members, including
two who were elected into parliament in an annulled 1990 election, to long
prison terms.
This enraged the NLD which said the sentencing was illegal because the
government did not allow the accused to engage lawyers. The NLD said they
were merely acting as members of a legitimate opposition party.
All the accused were arrested in connection with meetings planned by Nobel
Peace laureate Suu Kyi at NLD offices in townships outside Rangoon. The
government had prevented most of the meetings from taking place.
The SPDC had said that during the talks on Thursday, the NLD was told to
stop holding mass gatherings or risk losing meaningful dialogue.
It also wanted the NLD to refrain from making accusations and statements
against the government's security measures. ``If they keep on doing this, the
chances of dialogue and national reconciliation, which the NLD has been
talking about, would go further and further away,'' the SPDC said.
Tin Oo dismissed the remarks as the government's version of the meeting.
``They are writing it as they like,'' he said.
Tin Oo said NLD chairman Aung Shwe declined the government's invitation to
join the talks on Thursday because Suu Kyi was not included.
The NLD said meaningful dialogue between the two sides must include the
party's co-founder Suu Kyi who has been seeking a dialogue with the government
since she was freed from six years of house arrest in July 1995.
NLD officials last met government leaders in July, when Aung Shwe and two
central committee members met the powerful Secretary One Lieutenant General
Khin Nyunt to discuss political
*********************************************************
SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET No.A.0253(I)
December 19, 1997 (abridged)
NLD Central Executive Committee Members Invited to a Meeting
On 18 December at 4 pm U Thein Tun, U Hla Pe, U Nyunt Wai, U Soe Myint
and U Lun Tin of the NLD Central Executive Committee members were invited
to a meeting by the Minister for Home Affairs. The meeting was held to exchange
views where the Minister cordially advised the NLD CEC members to refrain from
creating conditions to which the authorities concerned are inevitably forced
to take necessary actions against the NLD party.
The CEC members were then pointed out that the NLD has been holding the
rallies under various pretexts and attempting to hold unauthorized political
activities in various townships. If and when the authorities are inescapably
forced to take necessary measures with the intention of maintaining the
stability in the country by the lawful enforcement, the party then exploited
this enforcement of Law and Order in the way of embarrassing the Government
of Myanmar and also in the accusation of violating the political rights of a
political party and also of being repressive.
The Minister also informed the CEC members that with a view to the open
discussions to take place and national reconciliation to materialize as NLD
has put forth, it is important and imperative that the NLD plays a
constructive role and cooperate with the authorities in creating conditions
necessary in support of such developments.. Creation of reverse conditions
will definitely not make the situation more positive or constructive but it
will only create serious setbacks in the development process.
The CEC members were then told that it is time the NLD should give a
serious thought of the stance they have purposely and wrongfully taken
and change in playing a constructive role by meeting its commitments while
the others meet theirs. The Meeting was initiated by the Minister for Home
Affairs in view of creating a better understanding and cooperation between
the NLD and the State Peace and Development Council, it is learnt.
*********************************************************
NCGUB STATEMENT: TIME FOR THE GENERALS TO BE SERIOUS
ABOUT 'DIALOGUE
December 19, 1997
NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA
815 Fifteenth Street, NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 393-7342 (202) 393-4312, Fax: (202) 393-7343
Following a promise to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan by the chairman
of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) during the Southeast
Asian Summit in Kuala Lumpur, the SPDC initiated a meeting in Rangoon with
a delegation of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
NLD leader U Tin Oo has said the SPDC used the meeting, which excluded both
the NLD chairman and the general secretary, to "scold" the NLD instead of
holding serious talks expected by the people of Burma and the international
community. The SPDC wanted the NLD to stop mass gatherings and from
making statements.
Evidently, the generals are still a long way off from change and
compromise. Even though the rapidly deteriorating socioeconomic and
political conditions in Burma demand an urgent change in Burma, the
generals have yet to view national interests constructively or show a
willingness to negotiate.
The SPDC still believes in restricting freedoms fundamental to all
civilized societies. It also fails to abide by the recent UNGA Resolution
that urged the SPDC "to pursue contacts with the League with a view to
engaging in a substantive political dialogue with the NLD General Secretary
Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders, including representatives of
the ethnic groups, as the best means of promoting national reconciliation
and the full and early restoration of democracy".
We firmly believe that a meaningful dialogue toward genuine national
reconciliation cannot take place in Burma until the SPDC generals recognize
that the NLD is an entity legitimately entrusted by the people to lead the
nation. If Burma is to be salvaged from the current socioeconomic and
political quagmire, the generals have only one option regardless of their
like or dislike; they will have to enter into a dialogue with the League.
The sooner they come to terms with that fact the quicker will Burma be on
the road to recovery.
************************************************
FTUB: STATEMENT ON THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S
COMMENT ON BURMA (Federation of Trade Unions - Burma)
December 18, 1997
We are encouraged that as expressed in the United Nations General Assembly
resolutions of 1996 and 1997 in which the Burma democratic movement
participated, the United Nations Secretary General has come forward to
resolve the political situation of Burma.
We are appreciative in the leader of the Burma military regime
understanding the value of the UNGA resolution and acknowledging the role
of the United Nations.
It is also contributive to the peace process that in the meeting with the
United Nations Secretary General, the leader of the Burma regime had
expressed the readiness for a dialogue with the National League for
Democracy and we believe as fitting a leader, will be responsible for his
words.
But, we object strongly to the UN General Secretary agreeing to the call of
the Burma regime for another election in total denial of the election
results of the 1990 election.
If he does so, he will be violating the United Nations General Assembly
Resolutions of 1996 and 1997 both of which "Urges the Government of
Myanmar, in conformity with its assurances given at various times, to take
all necessary steps towards the restoration of democracy in accordance with
the will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in
1990 and to ensure that political parties and non-governmental
organizations can function freely".
We strongly urge the UN Secretary General Secretary General to maintain a
consistent approach to the peace process in Burma through a dialogue
between the regime, the democratic forces and the ethnic nationalities and
refrain from initiating another election.
*******************************************************
NCGUB: STATEMENT ON 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDATION
December 18, 1997
1. Today is the 7th Anniversary Day of the foundation of National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). The NCGUB had to be formed
with members of parliament-elect in the resistance area, at Marnerplaw, in order
to fully realize the will, expressed categorically by the overwhelming
majority of the people, in the 1988 pro-democracy movement and in the
multi-party, democratic elections, held on May 27, 1990.
2. On this occasion, we reaffirm our government's commitment to struggle
on, hand in hand firmly together with the ethnic nationality organizations,
resistance forces in the frontier areas and the democratic forces, at home
and abroad, which have been in resistance against the SLORC/SPDC, until the
abolishment of the military dictatorship, the early establishment of a
democratic government guaranteeing the fundamental human and democratic
rights and the establishment of a genuine federal union, are achieved.
3. We bow our heads in respect to and put on record the extremely important
roles of the people who have elected us, our martyred colleagues who have
fallen in the prisons of the military dictatorship due to various forms of
inhuman torture, the male and female comrades who have to suffer unjustly
under long terms of imprisonment, the National Democratic Front (NDF) and
the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB), which have given aid and support
for the formation of the NCGUB, and all the democratic forces, organizations
and individuals, at home and abroad.
4. In the 7 years period of the National Coalition Government of the Union
of Burma, the United Nations, the democratic governments of the world, the
parliaments, NGOs, international human rights organizations, pro-democracy
and peace organizations, and the international media have come to realize
the truth regarding the yearnings of the people, human rights abuses
perpetrated by the military dictatorship, the crises the people have to
face politically, economically, socially & etc., and they have been
constantly endeavoring to generate aid and support for the democratic
movement of the people of Burma, on all sides. Special effort has been made
to increase UN and international pressure and actions to bring about a
politically meaningful and substantive dialogue, for national
reconciliation, between the NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other
democratic forces, true representatives of the ethnic nationalities and
SLORC/SPDC.
5. The results of this endeavour are:
(a) Adoption by the UNGA the consensus resolutions on Burma, for 7
consecutive years since 1991, including strong condemnations by the UNGA and
UN Commission on Human Rights against the serious violations of human
rights by the Burmese military regime, urging the regime to recognize the
May 1990 elections which itself had held, and to hold dialogue, as the best
means of finding answers to internal peace and national reconciliation,
with the democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, true
representatives of the ethnic nationalities & etc.;
(b) Imposition of trade sanctions by the U.S. government on Burma, beginning
from May 1997, forbidding new investments so long as there are human rights
violations and so long as there are no political changes towards
democratization, in accordance with the will of the Burmese people, denial
of U.S. visas to members of the regime and their family members, and the
adoptions of laws by 17 major cities including New York, San Francisco &
etc. and the Massachusetts State Government prohibiting economic relations
with international business companies having economic relations with the
Burmese military dictatorship:
(c) The withdrawal of GSP by the E.U. from Burma due to the practice of
forced labor, forced relocation and deplorable human rights situation and,
similar to the U.S., the visa ban by E.U. ;
(d) Also the ILO's strong protest against human rights violations in Burma
and keeping a close watch on the development;
(e) The increasing aid and support for the Burmese democratic movement by
the Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Denmark, Sweden, & etc.
6. Though we have thus gained success to a certain extent, our ultimate
goal of the abolishment of military dictatorship, establishment of a
democratic government elected democratically by the people, and establishment
of a peaceful and prosperous federal union remains to be achieved and,
accordingly, we, all the members of parliament-elect, solemnly pledge, on
this 7th Anniversary Day, to struggle on together with the people until all
our objectives are realized.
********************************************************
DVB: NLD MP FROM MYANAUNG JAILED FOR 15 YEARS
December 4, 1997 (Oslo Democratic Voice of Burma)
by Aung Hlaing Oo
It has been learned that U Tin Oo [from the National League for
Democracy Party], 57 years of age, who was elected as People's Assembly
member [MP] at the 1990 Multiparty Democratic General Elections from
Irrawaddy Division's Myanaung Township Constituency-1, has been sentenced
to 15 years imprisonment with hard labor by the Henzada Township Court for
failing to register as a visitor.
U Tin Oo arrived Henzada in October on a business trip and stayed
temporarily at a friend's house on Old Hospital Road in Uyin-Myauk Ward.
Military intelligence personnel, who are constantly watching NLD activities
to find fault with NLD members, followed U Tin Oo to Henzada and tried to
find fault with U Tin Oo for not registering as a visitor, said an NLD
member who arrived at the border recently.
At about midnight on 31 October, military intelligence personnel,
policemen, and Ward Peace and Development Council members arrested U Tin Oo
from the house where he was temporarily residing. It has been learned that
they have sentenced U Tin Oo to 15 years imprisonment with hard labor and
the house owner, Daw Saw Hlaing, to seven years imprisonment with hard
labor.
Three high school students and eight recently-defrocked monks from
Koetheintan Monastery were also held in custody at the Henzada Police
Station for clashing with authorities on 14 November at the Ward Peace and
Development Council Office in Uyin-myauk Ward. It is further learned that
authorities are making arrangements to take legal action and to sentence
them under the emergency provisions act.
***********************************************************
REUTERS: EUROPEAN UNION MIGHT SEEK WTO PANEL ON
MASSACHUSETTS BURMA LAW (abridged)
December 17, 1997
By Robert Evans
GENEVA, Dec. 17 (Reuters) - European Union officials said on Wednesday they
would be considering in the coming weeks whether to ask the World Trade
Organization (WTO) to set up a dispute panel to look into a Massachusetts
law on business in Burma.
The officials, who asked not to be named, were speaking after a third and
final round of talks with U.S. officials on the issue under the WTO's
dispute settlement procedure. The officials said there had been "no progress
on substance" in the discussions.
The EU, supported by Japan, argues that the measure violates WTO rules and
the 1994 Government Procurement Agreement, part of the global trade treaty
that set up the WTO.
All three powers were signatories to the agreement, which bars
discrimination on political grounds in assigning official contracts.
U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky has strongly criticised the
EU decision to start up the WTO dispute process, saying this was "a
counter-productive step" while efforts were underway to solve the problem.
*************************************************
BKK POST: BURMA TAKES ITS PLACE AT BIST-EC TABLE
December 19, 1997
Burma will be officially admitted to join the Bangladesh- India-
Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation (Bist-ec), when the
group's special session convenes in Bangkok on Monday.
Launched in Bangkok last June to promote economic cooperation in
the sub-region, the Bist-ec will formally accept new members and
discuss priority projects with the financial support of the UN
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap),
according to Kobsak Chutikul, director general of economic
affairs at the Foreign Ministry.
After the admission of Burma, -the grouping will be named
Bimst-ec, with the addition of "Myanmar" in the middle.
The session will be chaired by Thai Deputy Foreign Minister
Sukhumbhand Paribatra, while his counterpart U Khunt Swe
represents Burma.
Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Saroj Chavanavirach will
chair a senior officials' meeting today to consider eight
specific areas of cooperation proposed by Escap: trade,
investment and industry technology, human resource development,
tourism, agriculture, energy, infrastructure and transportation.
Both Escap and the International Civil Aviation Organisation have
examined the feasibility of setting up a new airline for the
sub-region, but found that there are a number of legal obstacles
impeding the idea, apart from economics.
Only if the airline can carry domestic passengers within the five
member countries can the open skies dream be fulfilled.
Nevertheless, Mr Kobsak said, sub-regional cooperation is an
increasingly popular concept among prospective donors.
Further support is being pursued in the private sector, with
Escap planning a conference on the eight proposed areas of
cooperation.
Bangladesh will host the group's second ministerial meeting next year.
********************************************************
NATION: CHOPPERS GROUNDED BY SANCTIONS
December 19, 1997 (abridged)
by Richard Ehrlich
Burmese generals have Texas made Bell helicopters for use against
opponents and druglords, but Bell and others in the helicopter
industry are losing US$5 million a year because of US sanctions
against the unelected military regime.
A US helicopter manufacturing representative, who asked not to be
identified, said Bell officials are "not too comfortable about
associating Bell with Burma".
"It's got very political in the US," he added.
It is unfair, the representative said because "people have
indicated that the helicopter and fixed-wing planes [Bell] had up
there, were doing a job".
The US-led sanctions against Burma have been in response to
alleged widespread extrajudicial killings, torture, imprisonment
and other abuses of human rights. The US and others have also
called for Burma's Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, to
be allowed to head an elected government.
London-based Amnesty International, the US State Department, and
other groups insist the Burmese military has, in the past decade,
killed thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators, ethnic
minorities and others, while continuing to torture opponents.
Burma consistently denies all such charges. The helicopter
representative, however, praised Bell's role in helping to torch
Burma's vast fields of illicit opium, which produce most of the
world's heroin. In the past, thanks to Bell, Washington was "able
to monitor it, the US government was in there, monitoring it".
But the sanctions knocked out the US anti-opium efforts in Burma,
he said. "It's a shame."
Today, Bell has "around 25 helicopters in Burma, sitting there
basically". But Bell officials back in Texas "are not
complaining". They predict the Burmese will eventually spruce up
all the Bell choppers and use them.
"One of these days, they are going to do something. But it will
cost them more, the longer you let this stuff sit"
The helicopter representative was speaking at the Defence Asia
'97 exhibition in Bangkok, where Bradley tanks, Greek missile
systems, F-16 warplanes, bombs from India, and other
international weaponry were on display for regional customers.
In addition to Bell Helicopter, which is a subsidiary of Fort
Worth-based Textron Inc. US participants included the Association
of the United States Army, Booz-Allen and Hamilton, Caterpillar,
ITT, Litton Laser Systems, Northrop Grumman, Smith and Wesson,
Boeing, Pratt and Whitney and others.
Bell had been "delivering stuff there in the 1970s to mid-1980s.
They're older Hueys. Type 205-Als. Civilian Hueys," the
representative said. "After the 1988 military takeover, basically
it's not been clear. There has been an indication: 'You wouldn't
be well-received to be selling there'."
That indication was not expressed by Burma's miffed military -
but "by the US". Up to then, American taxpayers funded the
Bells-to-Burma deals.
"The US government was paying for the spare parts and the
procurement of [Bell] aircraft, purchasing the aircraft. They
terminated the programme."
The Bells were billed as part of Washington's International
Narcotics Matters, usually known by its acronym INM, "to suppress
the drug business", he said. Washington "withdrew that support."
Today, the helicopters remain in Burma.
"I don't think they're flying now. They're all in hangars. It's
tit for tat. They say, 'You guys stopped the programme', so they
pretty much stayed away from us, and will continue the way it is,
until there has to be a political solution acceptable to the
Western countries before it will be business as usual."
ERADICATING INSURGENTS
The helicopters were not used only in drug eradication, however.
Bells were also helping to kill insurgents and others opposed to
the regime, according to minority ethnic Karen rebels. The rebels
have remnants from helicopters they say were shot down in 1983
and 1984.
A senior Karen guerrilla leader said: "The Burmese government was
using US-supplied helicopters to bring in big 105-mm guns and
ammunition to the front."
To prove his point, the guerrilla leader displayed large
fragments of two helicopters he said were shot down in June 1983,
at Mah Po Kay, near the border with Thailand.
"These are the remains of the gift from the American people to
the Burmese government," the guerrilla said, holding a fragment
of a helicopters which bore part of a label reading "serial
number A3-07271 FBW196, part number 212-010..."
The US helicopter representative said, however, that because of
the sanctions, Burmese generals "in the 1990s ... went out and
bought a whole load of Polish helicopters. I heard in excess of 30 .
*********************************************************
DOW JONES: TEXT OF U.S.DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE REPORT ON
BURMA RICE PROCUREMENT POLICY
December 1, 1997
SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--The following is the text of a report on changes in
Burma's paddy rice procurement policy, produced by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture attache in Bangkok and released on Friday.
Change in Burma's Paddy Procurement Policy.
In the first week of November, Myanma Agricultural Products Trading (MAPT),
an agency under the Ministry of Commerce that has procured paddy under a
quota system direct from farmers, issued notification that, effective
immediately,
paddy will be purchased through a sealed tender bid process.
MAPT plans to procure 100,000,000 baskets (2,086,525 metric tons) of paddy
under this new system in fiscal year 1997/98 (April/March), with specific
targets designated for each state. Interested parties were to submit bids by
November 23, 1997.
Over the past few years, MAPT required farmers in paddy surplus areas to
supply 12 baskets of paddy per acre at a specified, below-market price. (One
basket is approximately 20.9 kilograms). Farmers in paddy deficit areas were
required to supply less than 12 baskets per acre. Penalties could be
imposed on farmers who failed to meet their quota obligations.
Since the level of Burma's rice exports began to decline in 1996, there has
been speculation regarding possible changes in the paddy procurement policy,
but no relevant adjustments were made until the recent announcement. Sources
indicate that the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation stressed to higher
authorities the need to abolish the quota-based procurement system in
order to enhance paddy production.
According to the new policy, MAPT will procure Ngasein, Ehamata, Special
Ehamata, and Metone varieties. Paddy prices will be competitive and flexible
depending on the locality and will also be based on three types of paddy.
These are: export top quality paddy, export medium quality, and paddy that
meets export specifications.
MAPT stated that it will not purchase low milling quality paddy, dry season
paddy, wet and rain-soaked paddy, old crop paddy, or paddy that has a high
percent of red grain, sand, mud or clay.
*********************************************************
BORDER REPORT: CONSUMER GOOD PRICES IN KAREN STATE
01/12/97
December 12, 1997
(from a resident on the Thai-Burma border)
The following is a short list of basic household food costs available in
Hlaingbwe township, Karen State, as of 01/12/97. It serves as an example
of the current costs of living in Karen State generally.
ITEM QUANTITY COST LENGTH OF TIME
(KYAT) IT WILL PROVIDE
A FAMILY OF 6
rice 16 kg 640 5 days
cooking oil 700 cl 155 3 days
chillies (dry) 1.6 kg 325 2 weeks
onions 1.6 kg 120 5 days
salt 1.6 kg 70 2 week
fishpaste 1.6 kg 220 1 week
chicken eggs one 20 ------
duck eggs one 25 ------
catfish 1.6 kg 600 1 day
chicken 1.6 kg 700 1 day
CURRENT SALARIES
Primary school teacher 950 Kyat per month
Middle school teacher 1,200 Kyat per month
High school teacher 1,400 Kyat per month
Doctor 3,000 Kyat per month
Government worker 1,500 Kyat per month
These statistics were gathered directly from several traders who recently
returned from a number of villages in Hlaingbwe Township, Pa'an District
in central Karen State.
**********************************************************
THE TELEGRAPH: MIZORAM FOR WITHDRAWAL OF ASSAM
RIFLES FROM BORDER (abridged)
November 30, 1997
>From Deepak Tiwari
Aizwal,Nov 30(PTI): The Mizoram government has sought the
withdrawal of Assam Rifies from the border with Myanmar to
help curb the smuggling of drugs and arms from that route.
Mizoram's border with Myanmar is very porous. Stressing the need
for sealing the border, [State Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla] said it had
become an 'easy passage' for the country. He suggested 'phasewise'
withdrawal of the Assam Rifies to be replaced by 'some other para-military
force'. Thanhawla said Mizoram which became state in 1987 following
the 'Mizo Accord' between government of India and Mizo
National Front, had only three battalions of armed police to tackle
the problems created by internal as well as outside elements.
Intelligence reports suggested that drugs smuggled from the
'Golden Triangle' region, comprising Myanmar, Lao and
Thailand were being used by militants to raise funds.
***************************************
BRIEF REPORTS: December 10-19, 1997
NIKKO CHAIN OPENS NEW HOTEL IN RANGOON
Nikko Hotels International has opened a new 10-storey luxury
hotel, called the Hotel Nikko Royal Lake, in Rangoon. The hotel has
303 rooms as well as a business centre, banquet facilities, a swimming pool
and a fitness centre. Owned by the Royal Lake Hotel Co. Ltd, a member of
the Bangkok Bank Group, it is the first Japanese-operated hotel in Burma.
DHAKA INITIATES ASIAN HIGHWAY LINK WITH RANGOON
Bangladesh has initiated bilateral discussions with Myanmar for the Asian
Highway (AH) link between Dhaka and Yangon. Bangladesh has also
requested the ESCAP "to start an appropriate study" for this purpose and
"to play a role to convince" Myanmar for the direct route between the two
countries, the sources said.
BURMA SEIZES HEROIN, AMPHETAMINES
According to state-run newspapers, Burmese narcotics officials seized
88.5 kgs (194.7 lbs) of heroin and more than one million tablets of
amphetamines in two separate raids in eastern Shan State this month.
They said 81 kgs of heroin and 10,000 amphetamine tablets were found
in a car stopped on the Taunggyi-Mongton road on December 9. Five
people were detained. Another 7.5 kgs of heroin and 1.14 million
amphetamine tablets were confiscated at the Thai-Burmese border town
of Tachilek in Shan State on December 14. Officials arrested 12 people
during raids in the town.
JAPAN GIVES AID TO MYANMAR WELFARE ASSOCIATION
(note: MMCWA is closely associated with the military regime. Most
high-ranking members at the national and township levels are the
wives of military officers.)
Japan will give 90,000 U.S. dollars to the Myanmar Maternal and Child
Welfare Association in grant aid for "Diagnostic Ultrasound Services to
Reduce Maternal and Infant Mortality and Morbidity". The contract was
signed between Japanese ambassador to Burma Yoichi Yamaguchi and
professor Kyu Kyu Swe, president of MMCWA.
In November, Japan agreed to give nearly 200,000 U.S. dollars to local
Burmese organizations in grant aid to help rural development projects and
agricultural education, according to an earlier press release. In June, Japan
also extended the military regime about 16.5 million U.S. dollars for debt
relief.
HOUSING PROJECTS AND RELOCATIONS IN RANGOON
The SPDC has drawn up new housing projects in the capital of Rangoon to
move more residents from huts to apartment buildings due to considerable
population growth. The population in the capital has exceeded 5 million
living in 35 townships, according to official statistics. More and more
residents have been relocated to several new towns near Rangoon as old huts
and buildings have been demolished or reconstructed to give the capital a more
urban look. Secretary 1, Khin Nyunt, is the chairman of the Myanmar
Privatization Commission and chairman of the Housing Project Committee.
BURMA TO ESTABLISH EDIBLE OIL INDUSTRIAL ZONE
An edible oil industrial zone will be established near the newly-developed
Thilawa Port in the capital of Yangon, The zone will be jointly implemented
by the Myanmar Industrial Manufacturing Co Ltd and the Myanmar Edible
Oil Dealers Association, will be set up on a plot of 121.5 hectares.
Burma uses about 300,000 tons of edible oil on an annual basis, of which
some 200,000 tons is produced at home and the rest has to be imported.
According to official statistics, the country imported 65.25 million U.S.
dollars worth of edible vegetable oil and other hydrogenated oils in the
1996-97 fiscal year which ended in March.
FAO TO SEND AGRICULTURAL AID TO BURMA
ROME, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organisation will provide Burma with $318,000 in aid to rehabilitate its
agricultural sector after unusually widespread floods in July and August.
The Rome-based agency said in a statement that at the government's request,
it would supply sunflower, soya bean and vegetable seeds free for the Burmese
agriculture service to distribute to flood-stricken farmers. It said some
510,000
hectares of crops were devastated in the floods, some 124,000 farmers lost
their
crops and there was now an acute shortage of seeds for planting.
BURMA- JAPAN AFFORESTATION PROJECT
Burma and Japan are jointly implementing a "friendship afforestation project"
to establish a community forest in Myanmar's Mandalay division.
The project is sponsored by the Japan International Forestry Promotion and
Cooperation Center (JIFPCC), a Japanese non-governmental organization,
with the support of some Japanese corporations and in cooperation with
Myanmar's Ministry of Forestry.
The aim of the project is to set up a community forest in the central zone of
the Nyaung O area covering 450 hectares of land, the report said. Under the
project, the area will be afforested with 10 different kinds of trees including
Eucalyptus, Tamaka and Magyi.
BURMA TRIES TO INCREASE FINISHED WOOD PRODUCTS
Burma is trying to raise its production of value-added finished
wood products The state-run Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE) is
cooperating with foreign companies in direct investment or
establishing joint ventures to turn out value-added products,
Up to now, seven foreign firms from China, France, South Korea,
Malaysia, Norway and Thailand have signed business agreements with
the MTE to set up plywood, molding and furniture factories in Burma,
especially in two newly-established industrial zones in the capital,
Dagon Myothit and Shwepyithar..
According to official statistics, Myanmar's hardwood exports in
the 1996-97 fiscal year ending March were 209,137 cubic meters, while
exports of teak were 196,260 cubic meters. The country's exports of forest
products amounted to 218 million U.S. dollars in 1996-97, accounting for
24.4 percent of the total exports, second only to agricultural products.
SINGAPORE TAKES MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL BURMESE
YANGON (Dec. 10) XINHUA - Singapore authorities are taking precautionary
measures to curb the growing trend of illegal arrivals from Burma, Bangladesh
and Sri Lanka. Every Burmese ordinary passport holder will have to produce a
bank statement worth 3,000 Singapore dollars as show money for Singapore visa
application, according to the Singaporean Embassy in Rangoon.
THAI ARMY WANTS NEW ROAD FOR SECURITY
The Third Army plans to build a road along the Thai-Burmese
border in Tak and Mae Hong Son to ease the deployment of
government' forces in case of a border intrusion. The discussion followed
in the wake of a clash between Thai patrolmen and DKBA (Democratic
Karen Buddhist Army) troops, which left a ranger dead and two others
injured. The first 10-km portion of the road to be built is between Ban
Huay Pla Kong in Mae Ramat district and Ban Mae Ok Phalu in
Tha Song Yang.
LONG-NECK KARENS WILL NOT BE USED IN THAI TOURISM ADS
The Tourism Authority of Thailand stressed it has no policy to use long-neck
Karens as a selling point to promote the Amazing Thailand tourist campaign
during 1998-1999. "Long-neck" Karen women wear a number of brass rings
around in their necks, which become elongated as the rings are added. Migrants
from Burma, they are currently living in refugee camps in Mae Hong Son
province, as well as in one village in Chiang Mai province. A group of
long-neck Karen was brought to Chiang Mai province by a Thai business
man who charged tourists large sums of money to visit them. According to a
TAT representative, they will be taken back to refugee camps in Mae Hong
Son and have their work permits revoked to avoid being exploited by selfish
operators.
***************************************************